Grief counselors greet students after weekend homicide

Naomy Rojas is shown in this photo provided by the Fairfield Police Department. Rojas, 16, of Fairfield, was found dead from an apparent gunshot would early Saturday behind the apartments on the 1400 block of Phoenix Drive.

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield-Suisun School District made grief counseling available Tuesday at Fairfield High School, where a 16-year-old Fairfield girl who was shot and killed early Saturday attended school.

Counseling will continue as needed, district Secondary Education Director Sheila McCabe said. It was the first day of classes since the shooting that occurred over the long Presidents Day holiday weekend.

“We let staff know and students know the counseling is available,” she said. “Students as they need to are able to come in.”

Sometimes counseling is in groups and sometimes one-on-one, McCabe said. It depends on the needs of the individual as they process what has taken place.

The district used its school psychologists and had counseling support from the Children’s Nurturing Project, McCabe said.

Police on Monday updated the sequence of events related to the case. Police also released a photo Monday of Naomy Rojas, who was found dead between the south fence of an apartment complex at 1427 Phoenix Drive, and the nearby railroad tracks.

The investigation continued Tuesday.

A moment of blessing conducted by the group Faith Partners Against Crime is scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near where Rojas was killed, the Rev. David Isom said.

Police received calls of shots fired at 1:20 a.m. Saturday within a half-mile radius of the 1400 block of Phoenix Drive, Lt. Stephen Crane said in a Monday press release to update the status of the investigation. Officers responded to the area and checked what authorities describe as a “densely populated neighborhood,” but did not find anything.

Rojas, who police said died as a result of an apparent gunshot wound, was found shortly after 4:15 a.m. Saturday after police received a call that a shooting victim was found in the area.

Authorities said they believe numerous other people were present when Rojas was shot, but fled after the shooting. Detectives are working to find those who may have witnessed the fatal shooting.

It’s Fairfield’s second homicide of the year. Terrell Brumfield, 21, of Fairfield, was shot several times at approximately 8 p.m. Jan. 3 while he was in the common green area behind the El Verano Court section at the Parkway Gardens condominium complex. He died at the scene.

No arrests have been made in connection with Brumfield’s death. Police said they believe several people witnessed that fatal shooting as well, but none have not come forward.

Anyone with information about either deadly shooting is asked to call the Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at 428-7600, the 24-hour tip line at 428-7345 or Crime Stoppers at 644-7867. Callers may remain anonymous.

Barry Eberling contributed to this report. Reach Glen Faison at 427-6925 or [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GlenFaison.

Naomy Rojas

Glen Faison

Glen Faison joined the Daily Republic as managing editor in September 2009. He previously worked as a reporter and editor for daily and weekly newspapers in the San Joaquin Valley for 20-plus years. His experience includes time as editor of the Golden Eagle, a military paper serving the Lemoore Naval Air Station. He graduated from Fresno State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and bleeds Bulldogs red. He is an avid Washington Redskins fan, and attended the 1988 NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings at RFK Stadium. He married his wife, Jill, in 2005, and has three children: Courtni, Tyler and Hayli.

robbieFebruary 18, 2014 - 6:06 am

Blanca BotwinFebruary 18, 2014 - 6:54 am

Robbie, I don't think it's horrific that people ran from the scene after witnessing a young girl get shot in the HEAD. Would you stand around so you could possibly be next? I know I wouldn't. I will say it's dead wrong that no one called for help for her, once they were out of harms way. A phone call takes nothing, and by doing nothing, they're all almost as bad as the shooter. Take this as a lesson young people-there are no friends in the game. Don't be intrigued by the perceived glitter and glam.Live the square life, so you are guaranteed a life.

LarryFebruary 18, 2014 - 8:36 am

AliyFebruary 18, 2014 - 10:11 am

Perhaps she was spending the night at a friend's house and they snuck out on a Saturday night. It's not absolutely unheard of that teenagers are out past curfew. Sneaking out at night is nothing new. Stop assuming that this couldn't happen to any one of your children if they were determined and quiet enough to get where they want to go with a bad situation awaiting them.

CynthiaFebruary 18, 2014 - 1:22 pm

Justice for NaomyFebruary 18, 2014 - 2:16 pm

Gang related?? Cynthia, where did you get that info from? I haven't heard that this case is "gang related". Let's stop assuming and blaming Naomy's parents for this tragedy. I think the most important thing is that someone needs to speak up and let the authorities know who did this to her. Justice for Naomy!!
My thoughts and prayers go out to Naomy's family. She didn't deserve this...no one deserves this.

smhFebruary 19, 2014 - 9:14 am

psh it was gang related. stop the BS I know who that girl hung out with . them surenos out there . dont choose the gang if you aint ready. she didnt deserve to be killed that young but she was kickin it with gang bangers so common now .

Rich GiddensFebruary 18, 2014 - 9:32 pm

You just scored a touchdown Larry! It starts with parents. Government needs to stop subsidizing young women who get pregnant. We may just start to gain control over this spiraling out of control problem along with its costs.

Rich GiddensFebruary 18, 2014 - 11:10 am

R. ChesterFebruary 18, 2014 - 5:27 pm

Let me say, this is no accident. I was at the crime scene after it happened. Later News3 was there also. I would like get some counselors..being what I am, i have no resources to go to, and i dont what to make my situation worse.

justlistenFebruary 18, 2014 - 9:43 pm

It's a shame that she was 16. Regardless of how old she was, it's a shame. No one deserves it. Whoever she was running with that night/morning, she somehow, and for whatever reason, met her demise. Just glancing at her FB page and photos she seemed like a very innocent sweet girl. But there are also photos that seem to tell another story. We will always hear the painted pictures. Regardless, it's a shame ... that she was 16.

CD BrooksFebruary 19, 2014 - 6:52 am

Why this young girl was out and about is anybody's guess. But i can tell you there are way too many kids out at all hours of the night in this city, but they don't deserve to die. It's bad enough that somebody committed this crime. Worse yet is there is probably more than one person that knows who did it. Hopefully they'll come forward sooner than later.